301.624.2888 ILRatFCC.com 15 Middle Eastern Studies | Back by popular demand! ILR348 History of the Modern Middle East – Part I 5 sessions, 2 hours | 55+ The first of this two-part series introduces students to the history and culture of the modern Middle East from the dawn of Islam in the 7th century to the eve of World War I in the early 20th century. Participants will come to appreciate the diversity of a region that is often dismissed as monolithic by examining both contrasts in the physical landscape and distribution of resources as well as the intricate mosaic of ethnicities, religions, and languages. Part I will trace the rise of Islam and its impact on the peoples and cultures of the Middle East, including an unprecedented expansion that resulted in a multicultural and intellectually robust empire spanning three continents. We will explore the rise and fall of empires— Byzantine, Persian, and Ottoman—and examine the legacies of successive incursions from the West, beginning with the European Crusades and continuing under the imperial banners of Britain and France. This series will end with an exploration of competing 19th and 20th century nationalisms, leading to fallen empires, broken promises, and lingering hostilities. Note: Course will meet on campus, in-person. Instructor: Linda Funsch 5-Digit Number: 24750 | Wed, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., 3/8 - 4/12 No Class: 3/22 | Location: Sweadner Hall Tuition: $40 | Fee: $119 | Total: $159 ILR349 History of the Modern Middle East – Part II 5 sessions, 2 hours | 55+ Our journey through the history and culture of the modern Middle East resumes at the end of the First World War. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the partitioning of the region into European spheres of influence will provide historic context for many current conflicts. From ambiguous postwar treaties to the creation of new states in the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon, Arabia, and elsewhere, the seeds of today’s discontent were sown. Participants will trace the emergence of the United States as a political force in the Middle East, the rise of Arab nationalism, the sequence of Arab-Israeli conflicts/ treaties/and accords, the role of oil as a political and economic force, and the emergence of political Islam in its various manifestations. The rapid development and modernization of the Persian Gulf states, the legacy of U.S. intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan, the meaning of the ayatollahs’ 1979 takeover in Iran, hegemonic competition between Iran and Saudi Arabia and its surrogates, the rise of Turkey, Russia, and China in their quest for regional influence, and shifting alliances with the United States are among the topics to be explored in an effort to better understand this fascinating and dynamic region. Note: Course will meet on campus, in-person. Instructor: Linda Funsch 5-Digit Number: 24751 | Wed, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., 4/26 - 5/24 Location: Sweadner Hall Tuition: $40 | Fee: $119 | Total: $159 From the Advent of Islam to the Present: Interested in the Middle East but don’t know where to start? This series is designed for newcomers to the ILR Middle East program as well as long-time students who want to “fill in the blanks.” Updated material and a companion text provide participants with a foundation upon which to understand today’s rapidly unfolding events in the region with greater clarity. While either course can be taken alone participants will benefit from the continuity of both. MD residents age 60+ pay fee only for all Middle Eastern Studies courses.
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